Africa bears the highest burden of road fatalities globally and requires collective action to address the crisis, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Amani Abou Zeid said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the opening of the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Abou Zeid highlighted that Africa records more than 19 road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, well above the global average of 15, warning that road insecurity is not only a humanitarian and social crisis but also an economic one, hampering growth across the continent.
“This event brings together decision-makers and experts to accelerate efforts to halve road deaths by 2030, a goal fully aligned with the AU’s strategies, including the African Charter on Road Safety and the AU Vision 2063,” she said.
The AU’s approach, she noted, focuses on several key areas: building roads that meet safety standards, enhancing social inclusivity by considering the needs of women and people with disabilities, improving urban mobility through safer and more sustainable transport, and reducing pollution.
While initiatives such as the African Road Safety Observatory (ARSO) have been launched to track progress and share data, Abou Zeid warned that “the gap continues to widen, which is particularly concerning.”
The Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, is organized by Morocco’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics in partnership with the World Health Organization.
Themed “Commit to Life,” the event is drawing official delegations from more than 100 countries, including ministers responsible for transport, interior affairs, infrastructure, and health.
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